Updated February 25, 2018 14:04:10

Photo: Two Russian athletes were busted for doping during the Games. (AP: Matt Slocum)

The International Olympic Committee has upheld its ban of Russia from the Pyeongchang Olympics, denying the country the chance to march into the closing ceremony under its own flag.

The vote came on Sunday just hours before the closing ceremony.

Russia was banned from these Winter Games after a massive doping scandal at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, but the IOC had left open the possibility of reinstatement before the start of the closing ceremony.

However, two of the more than 160 athletes competing as Olympic Athletes from Russia tested positive for banned substances, including a curler who had to forfeit his bronze medal. That is half of the four doping cases reported so far at this year's Olympics.

The positive tests come after the IOC had said Russian athletes had been "rigorously tested" months before the games — and during them.

AP

Topics: winter-olympics, sport, korea-republic-of

First posted February 25, 2018 13:47:51